Must have a smooth sandy substrate which they will sift through looking for food and bury themselves. Provide hiding places also, they may bury themselves in the sand. Although this is generally a freshwater fish, it can be acclimated to a low salinity tank (SG less than 1.005).

An elongate slender fish with an exceptionally long snout. The body is silver-cream in colour with short brown bands across the spine, with small pale brown scattered spots below and a line of larger deep brown spots down the lateral line. The belly is pale.